Rotary engine



192 1 625 233 7 A. J. WILLIAMS ROTARY ENGINE Filed Aug. 25. 1922 s Sheets-Shet 1 A-.J Williams Apnl 19 1927' M]. WILLIAMS' ROTARY ENGINE April 19, 1927.

a 1,625,233 A. J. WILLIAMS 7 ROTARY ENGINE Filed Au 2s. 1922 a Sheds-Sheet 5 6: flJT MiZZz'ams Patented Apr. 19, 1927.

STTES rezazats "r @EHQE.

ARTHUR J. WILLIAMS, CF NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, ASSIGNOR F ONE-FOURTH TO GHEEVEB J. CAMERON, ONE-FOURTH TO WILLIAM F. GLENN, JR... AND ONE-FOURTH TO IVO B. GLENN, ALL OF NASI-IVILLE, TENNESSEE.

ROTARY ENGINE.

Application filed August 23, 1922.

The present invention relates to rotary engines comprising a stator and a rotor, which are so constructed that the engine may be used either as a rotary steam engine or a rotary pump depending on how the fluid is directed through the engine. In other words the engine may be used for pumping water and other liquids or utilized as a steam engine producing power under steam pressure. It has the same characteristics as all other rotary engines, that is, it works with a continuous rotary motion in one direction and is provided with valves and gearings for reversing the action of the motor.

The main object of this invention is to provide a motor or engine of this type of simple construction, which can develop a great amount of power for a minimum amount of fuel. Another object of the invention is to. minimize vibration and friction in the engine, making all parts light but durable and very accessible and which as a consequence may be built at a low cost, but at the same time is very simple and not likely to get out of order.

One embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which,

Fig. 1 represents a side elevation with the end plate partly broken away;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section along line 2-2 of Fig. 3;

Fig 3 is an axial section of the engine along line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Fig. 4 is an end view of a valve;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary end view of a piston;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of Fig. 5. i

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary section similar to Fig. 2 of a slightly modified rotor and abutment construction, and

Fig. 8 is a sectional detail of a packing construction suitable for the engine.

In the drawings reference numeral 10 rep-- resents a housing for the engine which is preferably provided with a base 11 firmly secured on the foundation by means of bolts 12 or the like. The housing has a cylindrical shell 13 which is closed at both ends by means of end: plates 14 secured by bolts 15 running all the way across the housing. This housing forms an oil and water tight jacket around the stator 16, which is sus- Serial No. 583,842.

pended within the housing on bolts 15 and placed therein in such a manner, that a wide space 17 is provided all around the stator as well as on both sides thereof. This space may be filled with oil or water for the easy running of the movable parts of the engine and to insure against leakage. Centrally mounted in the housing 10 is the main shaft 18 carried in suitable bearings 19 in the housing and similar bearings 20 in the stator. The main shaft'is revolubly mounted in these hearings and carries rigidly secured thereon the rotor 21, a key 22 being preferably provided for this purpose.

The stator 16 preferably consists of two shells 23 bolted to a pair of sliding abutment or gate casings 2 L situated diametrically opposite each other here shown in a vertical plane. The open ends of the stator are closed by means of side plates 25 also secured by bolts 15 and suitable clamping nuts 26. In this manner the stator contains a cylindrical chamber 27 within which the rotor 21 is housed.

The rotor is constructed in the form of a wheel with four spokes 28 integral with the hub 29 and also with the cylindrical outer wall 30 of the rotor. This cylindrical Wall. is flattened in two places diametrically opposite each other providing seats 31 for pistons 32. The diameter of the cylindrical wall 30 is considerably less than the inner diameter of the stator 16, so as to provide a space constituting the steam chamber between them. From the outer periphery of the cylindrical wall 30 the pistons rise forming a ridge as at 33, the apex of which is slightly spaced from the inner periphery of the cylindrical wall 23 of the stator. The pistons 32 are rigidly secured by means of screws 34 and the ridge 33 of each piston has a groove reaching from end to end thereof and intended to receive a packing bar 35 pressed outwardly by means of springs 36 seated in recesses in each piston and tending to press the packing in radial direction to contact with the inner surface of the cylindrical wall 23. The ends of the packing bars 35 have radial fingers 37 engaging in corresponding grooves 38 in the pistons 32. Each packing bar 35 has a pair of Wings 39, directed circumferentially of the rotor for a purpose that will be described later. At each end of the packing bars 35 are radial grooves intended to receive springs 41:0 in the bottom thereof and end packings ll pushed outwardly by said springs to form a tight. joint with the side alls of the stator. 'flhese end packings l-l have inwardly directed projections 11-2 engaging; in notches provided in the packing: bar for the purpose oi holding the end packinua radially connected with the packing; bars.

At ill is shown an end pachina for the rotor carried in the end wall "5 o l. the stator and provided with compressirm spring and adjusting screw -l-l-. This packing is intended to exert a pressure in axial direction against the cylindrical end of the rotor to form a tight joint therewith.

The casing Qf-t has an outwardly directed hug or pocketl5 which is hollowed out to acconnnodate the sliding; abutment or grate ll). This consists of a block of rectangular shape suspended centrally lay means of a bolt 47 upon a cross bar or walking beam 5:}. This :"liding; ahut-nient or gate is provided with a loosely nionnted i -head -38 seated in a recess M9 along the inner edge ol the sliding abutment or gate 46 and pressed continuously in that direction hy suitable springs 52, so as to contact with the outer periphery of the rotor and the pistons. At each end of the gate. or sliding; abutment 41) are provided end packine's elf) o't T-shape, which are seated in the grooves provided in the ends of the sliding abutment or gate 46 and pros ed outwardly against the side walls of the stator by means of suitahle springs 51, the long shank of the T of these end packinns extends in radial direction through the T-head or packing carrier l8 engr gins therewith. Other packinn's 5% are also provided in the sides oil the sliding abutment or grate l6.

The beams 53 are situated outside of the valve casing and extend across the same terminating;- with ears 55 engaging with the outer ends ol' operating rods 56. The belt i i attaching; the sliding: abutment or gate 46 to the beam 53 runs through a suitable aperture 1M5 furnished 'lor this purpose in the casing; The rorh 56 are guided in lugs 57 and on the sides of the stator and the inner ends ot' the rods 56 carry a roller 59. On each side of the stator a cam disk 60 is rigidly secured on the main shaft 18 so to revolve therewith. This dish is provided with cams (ll situated at the outer periphery of each disk and diametrically opposite each other and the rollers 59 are adapted to roll. alone the cylindrical surface and the cam surfaces of the disks. Between the outer ear 5? and an adpistin; nut 62 threaded on the rod 56 is inserted a coiled spring 63 tending to hold the roller in contact with the outer surface at the disks of) as best seen in Fig. 3 the rods 56 are engaged in pairs and the cams 61 on the disks are situated exactly opposite each other so as to simultaneously operate their respective rollers and in this manner raise the sliding abutments or gates carried on the heann-x 53. The height the cams (ll above the cylnulrical surliaoe 0; the disks on cmresponds to the radial distance hclween the cyliiulrical walls 5.43 and 2h). so that when the rollers engage with the cyihulriral surface of the disks (30 the T- head ll" on each sliding abutment or gale will ronlarl with the outer surface ol' the rylindrical wall Elli. and when ll apex of the earns (ll are situated opposite the rollers, each sliding abutment or grate will he lifted an amount cm'respondi11g with the distance between the cylindrical walls 2 3 and 30. In this manner the weight ot the sliding abutments or gates and the pressure exerted by the coiled sprin s (33 will be supported entirely upon the can) disks, so that the pressure against the rotor will only he equal to the weight ot the T'head 4:8 and the spring pressure behind it.

At 65 and (36 are shown intake ports for live steam, in case the engine is utilized as a rotary steam engine; these ports heing provided in each of the end plates of the stator and positioned dian'ietrically opposite,

each other. Similarly, reference numerals (ST and 68 represent exhaust ports, which are also positioned diametrically opposite each other in each of the side plates but symn'letrically as regards the intake ports on the other side of the vertical plane of the engine. lhere are accordingly eight of these ports altogether and suitable intake pipes 69 and 70 and exhaust pipes 71 and 72 are consequently provided for these ports. It will be evident that with suitable valve arrangren'ient the steam might be taken in from pipes 71 and 72 and exhausted through pipes 69 and '70 in this manner reversing the eiurine. The shape of these ports is triangular and the slanting; sides of the ports coincide with the inclined side surfaces of the fixed pistons 32. It will thus be seen that when the fixed pistons 32 stand in the vertical plane, the pistons will entirely cover the ports thereby cutting off both the in. tal e and the exhaust.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1 it should he noted that the earns (31 and disks G0 are positioned to substantially point in the same direction as the pistons 32. However, it is advisable to slightly advance the cams 61v as regards the pistons 32. such advancement amounting); onlv to ten one-thousandths of an inch at the apex of the cam.

The operation of the engine is as follows:

Supposing; that the rotor is intended to run in direction of arrow K, Fig. 2, the ports 65 and 66 then serve as intake ports, while the others, 67 and 6S serve as exhaust ports. When the pistons 32 are situated in the vertical plane of this figure, all

the ports will be closed, but directly the piston has advanced slightly in the direction of arrow X, the ports 67 and 68 begin to open while the intake ports and 66 remain closed. lhe cams (51 having in the meantime raised the slid'ng a-butinents or gates d6 so that the T-head or packing carrier l8 will pass over the apex 38 of the pistons. It will be noted that toe wings 39 of the packing bar having greater spread than the width of the recess in the valve housing, will bridge the same in this manner preventing the packing bar to slip into the same. Soon after the apex of each piston 32 has passed the vertical plane of the engine, the rear face of the piston will reach a cylindrical housing, a concentrically disposed cylindrical stator arranged therein ineans extending through the housing from end to end thereof reinovably mounting the stator and fixedly suspending the stator to do a surrounding lubricant chamber between the stator and housing. the stator be.- ing provided with inlet and exhaust ports, a rotor journaled in the stator and provided with pistons controlling said ports, sliding almtnients carried by the stator to cooperate with the rotor, and means disposed in said chamber for actuating said abutnients.

2. In a rotary engine, the combination of a cylindrical housing, a concentrically disposed cylindrical stator arranged therein emmmfl n-F inntiiin' nm-ts. means extendhousing, :1 voni-enli'ieuity disposed eyiindl'ieui stator in'i'ungred within the housing, end piutes closing the stator, moons extending from end to ed ot' the housing through die end pint-es thereof remm'uhiy mounting the sut n' unit emu-urine the end piutes oi the stcitoi' thereon, and the end phites oil. the housing;- upon the hon-int; us welt us fixedly eustuinint the stator to dei'iue :1 surrmiudiin hihi'ieuntelnunheihetweeu the stator and housing. the stator lowing provided with inlet end exhuust ports. :1 rotor jouz'inded in the mum: and provided with pistons controiiing vsaid ports. sliding ehutuients carried by the stator to cooperate with tho"i'otoi', and means dispo ed in szxid chamber for actuating; suid uhutuients.

(i. in u i'otui y engine, the eouioii'mtion of 21 cylindrical housing, :1 eoneentrieuily disposed evlindiiezd etutoi' zu'reluged therein and having its circumferential well. provided with oppositely disposed openings, said well of the stator being provided at said openings with flanges, means extending through the housing from end to end time oi" i'emovuhly mounting the stator and fixedly suspending the stator to define a S111.- i-oundiug iuhi'ieunt chamber between the stator and housing, the stator being provided with inlet and exhaust ports, a rotor journziied in the stator and provided with pistons controlling said ports, casings fitting in :nid openings in the wall of the stator and provided. with radial pockets, fastening de- \"iees extending through said flanges and engaged with the casings for securing the casings in position, ebutnlents shdoble in tjiiifit pockets to cooperate with the rotor, and means disposed in said chamber for aetuatinp; said ebuti'nents.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

ARTHUR J. WILLIAMS. [1,. s] 

